Before Islam became the dominant religion in Turkey, the religious landscape was diverse. The primary religion of the Turkic peoples, who migrated to Anatolia (modern-day Turkey), was Tengrism, also other religions were present.
Religious Diversity Before Islam
The region that is now Turkey was home to a variety of religious beliefs before the rise of the Ottoman Empire and the widespread adoption of Islam.
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Tengrism: This was the traditional religion of the Turkic peoples, centered around the sky god Tengri. It involved shamanistic practices and a reverence for nature.
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Christianity: Anatolia was an important center for early Christianity. The Byzantine Empire, which ruled much of the region before the arrival of the Turks, was Eastern Orthodox Christian.
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Other Religions: There were also smaller populations practicing Manichaeism, Nestorian Christianity, and Buddhism among the Turkic tribes.
The Transition to Islam
The Seljuk Turks, who began migrating to Anatolia in the 11th century, were already Muslims. Their conquest of the region gradually led to the Islamization of the population, which was further solidified during the Ottoman Empire.
